Written Answers

Thursday 30 November 2000

Scottish Executive

Aggregates Tax

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact of the aggregates tax on employment in Scotland.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Taxation matters are reserved. The Chancellor’s intention is to recycle the revenues from the aggregates tax into a reduction in employers’ NI contributions. This can be expected to lead to a net increase in employment.

Agriculture

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many farmers and crofters have become bankrupt over the last 12 months and whether it will provide an estimate of the numbers who will become bankrupt over each of the next two 12-month periods.

Ross Finnie: I refer to the answer I gave to question S1W-11027 on 22 November 2000. Each year the number of sequestrations among Scottish farmers is very small. Most farmers leaving the industry, as a result of financial pressure, do so in an orderly way by selling up and realising their assets. I expect this still to be the case over the next two years.

Asylum Seekers

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it liaises with Her Majesty’s Government on issues relating to asylum seekers resident in Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues.

Autism

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to increase the rate of diagnosis of autism in children at the earliest possible age.

Malcolm Chisholm: I refer the member to the answer to question S1W-10424 answered on 20 November 2000.

Best Value

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to encourage local authority officers and members to commit themselves fully to the Best Value programme.

Peter Peacock: Local authorities made a full commitment to Best Value in 1998 by the preparation of implementation plans for its incorporation. This justified the continuance of the moratorium on Compulsory Competitive Tendering by the then Minister for Local Government, Henry McLeish MP. The Scottish Executive has continued to work in partnership with local authorities and others to develop Best Value in local government.

Cancer

Mr Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct tests similar to those being carried out at Newcastle General Hospital into a new drug treatment for mesothelioma patients.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive encourages patient entry into clinical trials but has no locus in setting these up.

Cancer

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is any evidence of concentrations of breast cancer in the vicinity of high voltage cables and, specifically, whether there is a higher than average incidence of breast cancer in the village of Brookfield, Renfrewshire.

Susan Deacon: The collective results thus far of epidemiological studies of breast cancer risk among adults living in the vicinity of high voltage power lines do not indicate a clear link between proximity to such lines and the occurrence of breast cancer.

  Available information does not suggest that the overall incidence of female breast cancer amongst residents of the Brookfield area of Renfrewshire is unusual when compared with either that for Argyll and Clyde Health Board area or Scotland as a whole. The figures are as follows:

  Incidence of female breast cancer (ICD-9 174 / ICD-10 C50)

  Observed and expected (O/E) number of cases in postcode sector PA5.8, based on rates for (a) Scotland and (b) Argyll & Clyde Health Board area; all ages: 1988-1997

  


(a) Compared with Scotland







Observed
registrations


Expected
registrations


O/E




Females


58


58.61


0.99




(b) Compared with Argyll & Clyde 
HB area







Observed
registrations


Expected
registrations


O/E




Females


58


58.52


0.99




  Source: SOCRATES (Scottish cancer registration database); population data supplied to ISD Scotland by GRO(S).

Cancer

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which health boards allow doctors to prescribe (a) Temozolomide for the treatment of brain cancer and (b) Inrinotecan for the treatment of bowel cancer.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held centrally. Details of drug treatments given in hospitals are not available centrally. Data collected centrally relates only to prescribed items dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors.

Cancer

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to ensure that appropriate care and support is available to people diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Susan Deacon: Cancer is one of three national clinical priorities for the NHS in Scotland.

  Mesothelioma is a particularly distressing disease, for which the treatment options are the same as for all cancers i.e. chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Decisions on treatment options are reached in agreement between clinicians and their patients.

  Similarly, a wide range of support services are available for everyone with cancer. Referral to the appropriate services would normally be made by medical staff after discussion and agreement with patients.

Child Abuse

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the End Child Prostitution and Pornography Trafficking Campaign, what issues were discussed and what the outcome was of any such discussions.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive has been involved in discussions with ECPAT through our joint review with the UK Government of the Sex Offenders Act 1997. The main issue discussed was the extension of the sex offenders register to those resident in the United Kingdom who have been convicted of sex offences abroad.

Children

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce or encourage the establishment of specialist refuge centres for under 16s who have run away from home, as provided for in the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.

Mr Jack McConnell: Local authorities already have powers under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 to provide short-term refuges for children but their use has been limited. The Scottish Executive is considering the recommendations in the Aberlour Trust’s publication Missing Out – Young Runaways in Scotland  which result from research into young people under 16 who run away or are forced to leave home.

Dental Care

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether additional funding will be allocated to Scotland’s Dental Schools to ensure that verifiable courses are available to general dental practitioners to fulfil their continuing professional development obligations.

Susan Deacon: At present the main resource for courses for continuing professional development is provided through the Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education. The Executive will continue to monitor the resource required in the light of information on demand and need provided by the council.

Disabled People

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to assist and support disabled people to take up employment.

Ms Wendy Alexander: A comprehensive range of policy measures is in place to ensure that those with disabilities or other special needs can play an effective part in Scotland’s economic future, and gain access to education and lifelong learning to improve their employability.

  Employment policy is a reserved area. The New Deal is delivered in Scotland in partnership with the Scottish Executive and other Scottish organisations. By the end of August, over 2,300 disabled people had sought help through the New Deal for Disabled People in Scotland and over 600 had found work. A New Deal for Disabled People prospectus was launched on 13 November. This invites bids from the private, voluntary and public sectors for the provision of Job Broker services, as part of a variety of innovative approaches to help disabled people to move from benefits to sustained employment.

  We are also committed to widening access to further and higher education. The needs of people with disabilities will be a key element in taking forward our current consultation on student support and our commitment to targeting resource on the most disadvantaged students, and unemployed people.

  A National Action Group will take the lead in implementing the recommendations of the Beattie Committee Report on the needs of young people who require additional support to make the transition from school to post – school education, training and employment, with an additional £22.6 million made available from the Scottish Executive’s Spending Review.

Education

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision it has made to ensure that children with disabilities can attend private or voluntary pre-school education.

Nicol Stephen: Children with disabilities have the same entitlement to pre-school education as other eligible children. Education authorities are responsible for ensuring that the places provided for all children meet their individual needs. Authorities may provide places directly or commission places in the private and voluntary sector. Where places are commissioned for children with disabilities, authorities should ensure that any specialist support required is in place.

Elderly People

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to establish a national partnership body to work with older people.

Malcolm Chisholm: This is one of the recommendations of the Better Government for Older People Programme Steering Committee report, to which we will be responding in the New Year.

Employment

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to take to increase employment opportunities for people aged 50 and over.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on the funding and delivery of the New Deal, although in close consultation with its partners, including the Scottish Executive. The New Deal 50plus offers personal advice, job search support and an Employment Credit to people over 50 who are looking for work.

  The Executive also supports the Department for Education and Employment’s Code of Practice on Age Diversity in Employment, which calls upon all employers to tackle age discrimination.

  Training for Work, the Scottish Executive’s training programme for long-term unemployed adults over the age of 25, is currently being reviewed. Our consultation document includes a proposal to extend entry to all unemployed people aged 50 and over.

Employment

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it provides assistance for the retraining of textile workers who have lost their jobs and whether it plans to increase support for retraining following recent job losses in the sector.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-2590 on 23 November.

Enterprise

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and what issues were discussed.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The then Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning formally met the full board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise in February this year, and a wide range of subjects, including the Enterprise Networks Review, Assisted Areas, the University of the Highlands and Islands, Infectious Salmon Anaemia and Tourism were discussed. There have been a number of less formal contacts on a variety of issues involving Executive Ministers and officials and office bearers of HIE since then.

Enterprise

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote Scotland overseas as a dynamic place for innovative pharmaceutical and biotechnological research.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is working closely with Scottish Enterprise to strengthen Scotland’s position as a world centre for leading edge biotechnology and pharmaceutical research. Between 1999 and 2004, as part of the biotechnology cluster action plan, Scottish Enterprise is due to inject £38 million into the continued development of this key sector. This promotional activity is taking a number of forms, including issuing regular e-bulletins to over 2,000 international contacts and use of the Biotechnology Scotland website, where 50% of visitors to the site are from overseas. Opportunities for networking and international partnership working are also being developed.

  This work is supported by Scottish Trade International and its network of overseas offices, including its four Scottish Technology and Research Centres in the US. This provides a platform within priority markets for the promotion of Scottish research expertise and the development of strategic alliances. One such partnership agreement was signed in August between Scottish Enterprise and the Maryland Bioscience Alliance, with the support of the Scottish Executive and the State of Maryland. This alliance will help promote business and research collaborations with one of the premier life science centres in the United States.

  In another recent development, a research agreement worth over £5 million, between the Japanese company Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Scottish Biomedical, will see the creation of a brand new research facility based at the West of Scotland Science Park.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what direction and guidance it has given to Scottish Enterprise and the local enterprise network regarding the provision of capital to assist expanding companies to develop, and what funding has been allocated for this purpose.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Guidance on the need to stimulate business development has been issued by Ministers to Scottish Enterprise and is embodied in the network’s current strategy. The details concerning the provision of capital to assist expanding companies is a matter for the Enterprise Network and we do not ring fence resources for this purpose.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many business start-up grants each local enterprise company (LEC) paid in 1999-2000; what the average time taken between applications being submitted and start-up grants being paid was in each LEC area, and what the total value was of the start-up grants paid in each LEC area.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and I have asked the Chairmen to reply to the member. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Environment

Mr Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is putting in place to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in Scotland.

Mr Sam Galbraith: I refer Andy Kerr to the answer given to question S1W-11307 on 17 November, regarding publication of a Scottish Climate Change Programme detailing measures in devolved areas to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

Finance

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-357 by Mr Jack McConnell on 20 September 1999, whether it will (a) provide an up-to-date list of the public sector capital projects involving private finance (i) completed, (ii) planned and (iii) underway, giving both the start and estimated completion dates; (b) detail the total estimated capital investment included in the projects; (c) detail the annual public expenditure required to service these projects in both cash and real terms for each year of the life of the projects, and (d) give the total lifetime cost of the projects, shown individually and by sector in both cash and real terms.

Angus MacKay: An up-to date list of all currently active projects known to the Executive, giving the dates requested, where available, and the total estimated capital value of known projects is available in SPICe. The annual public expenditure required to service these projects and their lifetime costs are matters of commercial confidentiality between the public sector bodies concerned and their contractors, however, information aggregated on a sector-by-sector basis is provided in the following table.

  Existing deals (i.e. Operational & Signed): Estimated Service Payments (£ million) on a Sector by Sector Basis

  





1999-2000


2000-01


2001-02


2002-03


2003-04


2004-05


2005-06


2006-07




Water and sewerage (cash)


13.0


21.0


42.0


51.0


52.0


54.0


55.0


57.0




Water and sewerage (real)


13.0


20.6


40.2


47.6


47.3


48.0


47.6


48.1




Further and Higher Education (cash)


0.5


1.6


5.9


5.9


5.9


6.0


6.0


6.1




Further and Higher Education (real)


0.5


1.6


5.6


5.5


5.4


5.3


5.2


5.1




Health (cash)


17.0


36.0


54.0


68.0


89.0


91.0


91.0


91.0




Health (real)


17.0


35.3


51.6


63.5


81.0


80.8


78.8


76.8




Justice (cash)


17.0


15.0


15.0


15.0


16.0


16.0


16.0


17.0




Justice (real)


17.0


14.7


14.3


14.0


14.6


14.2


13.9


14.4




National Roads & Transport (cash)


21.3


22.1


20.4


21.3


23.0


21.3


20.4


21.3




National Roads & Transport (real)


21.3


21.7


19.5


19.8


20.9


18.9


17.7


18.0




Social Work (cash)


0.9


1.1


1.1


1.1


1.1


1.2


1.2


1.3




Social Work (real)


0.9


1.1


1.1


1.0


1.0


1.1


1.0


1.1




Nationalised Industries (cash)


1.2


1.2


1.3


1.3


1.4


1.4


1.5


1.6




Nationalised Industries (real)


1.2


1.2


1.2


1.2


1.3


1.3


1.3


1.3




Local Authorities (cash)


9.4


23.4


25.7


26.1


26.4


26.6


24.6


24.8




Local Authorities (real)


9.4


22.9


24.6


24.3


24.0


23.7


21.3


21.0
































 

2007-08


2008-09


2009-10


2010-11


2011-12


2012-13


2013-14


2014-15




Water and sewerage (cash)


58.0


61.0


61.0


63.0


63.0


67.0


67.0


68.0




Water and sewerage (real)


47.8


49.0


47.7


48.1


46.9


48.6


47.4


46.9




Further and Higher Education (cash)


6.1


6.2


6.2


6.2


6.2


6.3


6.3


6.2




Further and Higher Education (real)


5.0


5.0


4.9


4.7


4.6


4.5


4.4


4.3




Health (cash)


92.0


89.0


90.0


92.0


98.0


99.0


102.0


105.0




Health (real)


75.7


71.4


70.4


70.2


72.9


71.8


72.2


72.4




Justice (cash)


17.0


18.0


18.0


19.0


19.0


20.0


21.0


21.0




Justice (real)


14.0


14.4


14.1


14.5


14.1


14.5


14.9


14.5




National Roads & Transport (cash)


23.0


20.4


23.0


27.2


27.2


28.1


28.9


30.6




National Roads & Transport (real)


18.9


16.4


18.0


20.8


20.2


20.4


20.4


21.1




Social Work (cash)


1.4


1.5


1.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0




Social Work (real)


1.2


1.2


0.8


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0




Nationalised Industries (cash)


1.6


1.7


1.8


1.9


2.0


2.1


2.1


2.2




Nationalised Industries (real)


1.4


1.4


1.4


1.4


1.5


1.5


1.5


1.5




Local Authorities (cash)


25.3


22.3


22.7


23.1


23.4


23.8


24.6


24.9




Local Authorities (real)


20.9


17.9


17.8


17.6


17.4


17.3


17.4


17.2




  

 

2015-16


2016-17


2017-18


2018-19


2019-20


2020-21


2021-22


2022-23




Water and sewerage (cash)


72.0


72.0


75.0


76.0


79.0


80.0


81.0


70.0




Water and sewerage (real)


48.4


47.2


48.0


47.4


48.0


47.4


46.8


39.4




Further and Higher Education (cash)


6.3


6.3


6.4


6.5


6.4


6.4


6.3


5.4




Further and Higher Education (real)


4.2


4.1


4.1


4.0


3.9


3.8


3.6


3.1




Health (cash)


104.0


106.0


108.0


110.0


111.0


111.0


114.0


113.0




Health (real)


69.9


69.5


69.1


68.6


67.5


65.8


65.9


63.7




Justice (cash)


22.0


17.0


18.0


19.0


19.0


20.0


19.0


20.0




Justice (real)


14.8


11.1


11.5


11.8


11.6


11.9


11.0


11.3




National Roads & Transport (cash)


40.0


44.3


37.4


32.3


34.9


34.9


34.0


24.7




National Roads & Transport (real)


26.9


29.0


23.9


20.2


21.2


20.7


19.7


13.9




Social Work (cash)


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0




Social Work (real)


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0




Nationalised Industries (cash)


2.3


2.5


2.6


2.7


2.8


2.9


3.1


3.2




Nationalised Industries (real)


1.6


1.6


1.6


1.7


1.7


1.7


1.8


1.8




Local Authorities (cash)


25.3


25.5


25.9


26.7


27.0


27.5


27.9


28.4




Local Authorities (real)


17.0


16.8


16.5


16.6


16.4


16.3


16.1


16.0




  





2023-24


2024-25


2025-26


2026-27


2027-28


2028-29




Water and sewerage (cash)


71.0


73.0


75.0


73.0


93.0


0.0




Water and sewerage (real)


39.0


39.1


39.2


37.2


46.2


0.0




Further and Higher Education (cash)


5.4


5.4


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0




Further and Higher Education (real)


3.0


2.9


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0




Health (cash)


117.0


120.0


122.0


124.0


123.0


123.0




Health (real)


64.3


64.3


63.7


63.2


61.1


59.6




Justice (cash)


20.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0




Justice (real)


11.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0




National Roads & Transport (cash)


6.8


7.6


8.5


9.4


7.6


0.0




National Roads & Transport (real)


3.7


4.1


4.4


4.8


3.8


0.0




Social Work (cash)


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0




Social Work (real)


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0




Nationalised Industries (cash)


3.3


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0




Nationalised Industries (real)


1.8


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0


0.0




Local Authorities (cash)


28.9


29.4


12.7


8.0


8.1


7.9




Local Authorities (real)


15.9


15.8


6.6


4.1


4.0


3.8




  Source: March 2000 PES Return.

  Real Prices to a base year of 1999-2000.

Fisheries

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it proposes to take in relation to the forthcoming review of the Common Fisheries Policy.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive has already discussed with the industry and other interested parties issues arising from the CFP with a view to developing a Scottish perspective to the UK response to the Commission Green Paper on the reform, which is due for publication next spring. I took the opportunity to raise with Commissioner Fischler, when he visited Peterhead recently, the importance we attach to issues like 6- and 12-mile limits, relative stability, the Shetland Box and enhancing the regional dimension of the CFP.

  I understand that the European Committee intend to hold an inquiry into the review, and the Executive will be happy to contribute to this.

Flood Prevention

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the comments by the First Minister on 9 November 2000 ( Official Report , col. 1573), what the total resources allocated for flood prevention applications by local authorities will be for the next three financial years.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Resources allocated for confirmed flood prevention schemes and approved coast protection schemes to supplement the local authority non-housing capital programme over the next three years are:

  


2001-02


£8,500,000




2002-03


£9,000,000




2003-04


£10,000,000




  It will be for councils to come forward with suitable schemes to take up these resources.

Food Safety

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken since 13 January 2000 to ensure that French beef in the Scottish marketplace conforms to the same standards laid down for home-produced beef.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is advised by the Food Standards Agency on food safety matters. On 1 October this year more stringent BSE-related controls were applied across the EU regarding the removal of specified risk material (SRM) from cattle for human consumption. It is illegal to sell beef in the UK, for human consumption, from animals over 30 months old that come from countries with a risk of BSE.

  Potential risks to consumers from imported beef are being closely monitored. The agency has issued guidance to enforcement authorities throughout the UK requesting that checks on all documentation which accompanies consignments of imported beef are stepped up.

  The agency has welcomed yesterday’s further proposals from the Commission. These reflect current UK controls and provide effective protection for consumers against the spread of BSE across Europe. The agency will be checking progress on the key issues of when these new controls are introduced and the effectiveness of enforcement measures.

  The agency will provide further advice on the safety of imported beef directly to the Scottish Executive, as well as to other UK administrations.

Foster Care and Adoption

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to revise the guidance it offers to fostering and adoption agencies on assessing prospective clients.

Nicol Stephen: We aim to publish a new code of practice to help local authorities improve their recruitment, selection and assessment of foster carers early next year. We are currently involved in discussion on the development of UK national standards for adoption and will be assessing the implications for current guidance in Scotland.

Health

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is dealing with burkholdaria cepacia outbreaks in children’s hospitals.

Susan Deacon: There has for long been comprehensive central guidance on the prevention of infection in hospital, most recently revised in 1998 in the form of the Scottish Infection Manual . This guidance contains a chapter on the prevention of infection in "Units of High Potential Risk", which include certain paediatric units, and indicates specific measures to be put in place in addition to the standard infection control precautions.

  The importance of reducing the incidence of hospital-acquired infection generally is recognised and the Executive has recently established a working group to examine this whole area.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider the appointment of an official to the NHS Management Executive to represent the professions allied to medicine.

Susan Deacon: The Chief Nursing Officer is responsible for professional issues regarding nursing, midwifery and the professions allied to medicine (PAMs), across all health matters in relation to Scottish Executive policy.

  Consideration is being given to strengthening measures to ensure that the needs of and role of PAMs are effectively recognised and addressed.

Higher Education

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10755 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 13 November 2000, how it will ensure that Scottish universities are not adversely affected by any e-university proposal; whether there is any organisation in existence which will, if necessary, protect the interests of Scottish universities in this context; what steps any such organisation has taken to promote its activities to the e-university committee and, if no such organisation exists, whether it will consider establishing one.

Ms Wendy Alexander: All universities and higher education institutions throughout the UK are currently being consulted on the proposed e-university business model. A UK-wide steering group for the e-university (e-U) has representation from a Scottish university, and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) also has observer status on that group, to ensure that Scottish institutions’ interests are considered and to keep Scottish institutions informed of the group’s work.

  SHEFC will consider all responses from Scottish institutions to the current consultation, which will inform its future policies.

  The e-U business model report refers to the existence of "Scottish Knowledge", launched in 1999, as "perhaps the most comprehensive e-development within the UK, set up by a group of Scottish universities and UK businesses to act as a commercial and global marketing partner. (It) has some similarities with (the) proposals for the e-U". It is clear that the e-U steering group, and the consultants who prepared the business model report, are well aware of Scottish developments.

Higher Education

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in the development of the Highland and Islands University project.

Ms Wendy Alexander: UHI is responsible for developing the University of the Highlands and Islands Project.

  UHI has made good progress in tackling the issues that emerged from consultation on its application for designation of the proposed new institution UHI as eligible for funding by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. I am meeting the UHI Board on 11 December, to hear a further progress report and discuss the way forward.

Holyrood Project

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken by the Forestry Commission to facilitate the procurement of Scottish timber for structural and other purposes in buildings in the Holyrood Project.

Rhona Brankin: Over the last two years, the Forestry Commission has taken several steps to ensure that the Holyrood project team is fully aware of the opportunities for using Scottish timber in the Scottish Parliament. It has arranged for representatives of the timber trade to meet members of the project team, the contractors and the architects, and it has organised a tour to show members of the project team how Scottish hardwoods are processed and how they have been used in recent buildings. The commission has co-sponsored a study into the amount of Scottish oak that is currently available as sawn timber, and it has also provided information to the contractors about how much other Scottish timber is likely to be available, and how it could be obtained for the Holyrood project. I am pleased to say that, following this contact, a contract has recently been let to provide about 50 cubic metres of Scottish grown oak for the new Scottish Parliament building.

Justice

David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-1700 by Mr Jim Wallace on 17 January 2000, whether it will explain the difference between an opinion that "there were no statable case" and an opinion that there was "no prospect of any success and no merit in going ahead with a judicial review" in respect of the Sheriff’s decision in Noel Ruddle’s appeal hearing.

Mr Jim Wallace: As indicated in my answer to question S1W-1700, Scottish Ministers took the view that there was nothing to be gained from proceedings for judicial review. Legal advice given to the Scottish Ministers was that there was no argument which might have been stated in court which would have succeeded in achieving Mr Ruddle’s continued detention in hospital.

Learning Disabilities

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to produce detailed information about the number of adults and children with learning disabilities.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Learning Disability Review Report, launched on 11 May, estimated that there are around 120,000 people with learning disabilities in Scotland, but acknowledged that detailed information about them, and the services they receive, was inadequate.

  The report recommends that local authorities and health boards should jointly draw up "partnership in practice" (PiP) agreements by June 2001 which will serve as the strategic planning document for meeting the needs of people with learning disabilities. A key component of these first PiP’s should set out how local authorities and health boards will set up and maintain local registers.

  Information on the numbers of children with special educational needs is published in the Scottish Executive School Census Statistical Bulletin which can be found on the Scottish Executive website.

MMR Vaccine

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why parents are not offered a choice between separate injections of measles, mumps and rubella vaccines and the combined MMR vaccination.

Susan Deacon: The licensing and safety of medicines is a reserved matter. The vaccination policy in the UK for mumps, measles and rubella is to use the combined MMR vaccine, except where a patient cannot receive the combined vaccine for clinical reasons.

Marine Environment

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken or proposes to take to encourage, promote and support research and development and manufacturing of subsea technology in Scotland; what finance has been made available for this purpose in each year from 1997 to the present, and what finance it intends to make available in 2001-02.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The funding of research and development of subsea technology is a reserved matter for the Department of Trade and Industry.

NHS Expenditure

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the difference was in per capita health spending between Scotland and England in 1997-98 and what it will be by the year 2003-04.

Susan Deacon: On a cash basis, actual Scottish health expenditure per head in 1997-98 was £147 more than in England. Planned expenditure per head for 2003-04 is £194 greater than England.

NHS Staff

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many nurses, doctors, consultants and GPs have been recruited each year since 1997.

Susan Deacon: Information on the number of nurses, doctors, consultants and GP’s who have been recruited each year since 1997 is contained in the following table:

  Headcount as at 30 September

  





Number


% Increase




1997


1998


1999


1997-98


1998-99




Nurses and Midwives 1


41,414


41,359


41,759


-0.1%


1.0%




Hospital/Community Consultants 2


2,853


2,903


3,023


1.8%


4.1%




GP’s 3 p


3,942


4,026


4,073


2.1%


1.2%




  p provisional

  Notes:

  1. Comprises qualified nursing and midwifery staff only. Excludes unqualified nursing and midwifery staff, nurses’ teachers, nurses in training and students on "1992"courses

  2. Includes honorary appointments.

  3. As at 1 October. Comprises principles, assistants, GP registrars, associates and salaried doctors under the Practice Staff Scheme.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-8015 by Mr Jack McConnell on 30 October 2000, what each body’s remit is, how much public money each receives and how many appointments have been made to each of them.

Angus MacKay: Details of the remits, funding and composition of the following Non-Departmental Public Bodies as listed in the answer to question S1W-8015 are included in the 1999 version of the Public Bodies document:

  British Potato Council

  The Clinical Standards Board for Scotland

  Scottish Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards

  Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission

  Scottish Further Education Funding Council

  This is available at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango/index/pubs.htm. Information on the remaining bodies is set out in the table below:

  


Title


Remit


Amount Funded by Government


Composition




Health Technology Board for Scotland


The Health Technology Board for Scotland 
was created to provide a single source of evidence-based advice 
to the National Health Service in Scotland on the clinical and 
cost-effectiveness of new and existing health technologies (drugs, 
devices, clinical procedures and settings)


£1 million


Chair – 1M
Members – 5M, 2F




Learning and Teaching Scotland


To promote and encourage understanding 
and application of educational technology in its widest sense


£1.337 million


Chair – 1M
Members – 2M, 1F (M, 2F)




Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland


To promote the interests of customers 
of the new water and sewerage authorities and be responsible for 
all aspects of the economic and customer service regulation of 
the authorities.


Not directly funded by Government. 
Receives funding from a levy from the three Scottish Water Authorities 
(1.9 million).


1 Commissioner




  The Scottish Advisory Committee on the Dental Workforce is not an NDPB as stated in question S1W-8015.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which non-departmental public bodies which have been abolished since May 1997, specifying in each case the body’s remit, any public monies received in its last year of operation, and how many posts each had.

Angus MacKay: Details of public bodies abolished since May 1997 were provided in the answer to question S1W-8016. Information relating to the remits, funding and composition of these bodies is to be found in the relevant version of the annual Public Bodies publication as listed below. Copies are available from the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango/index/pubs.htm.

  


Title


Public Bodies – Version




Advisory Committee on Dental Establishments


1998 – Page 131




Scottish Agricultural Consultative 
Panel


1998 – Page 135




Scottish Childcare Board


1999 – Page 161




Scottish Community Education Council


1998 – Page 128




Scottish Consultative Council on 
the Curriculum


1999 – Page 161




Scottish Council for Educational 
Technology


1999 – Page 154




Scottish Water and Sewage Customers 
Council


1999 – Page 131




  Details of the Potato Marketing Board and the Scottish Seed Potato Development Council are listed below. Both these bodies were replaced by the British Potato Council in 1997. Full details of the British Potato Council can be found in the 1998 version of Public Bodies.

  


Title


Remit


Funding


Composition




Scottish Seed Potato Development 
Council


Promote the sales of Scottish seed 
potatoes at home and overseas.


Funded by a levy on all Scottish 
potato grower.


1 – Chair
Members – 16




Potato Marketing Board


Administer support arrangements for 
potatoes in the UK under the Potato Marketing Scheme.


Funded via a grower levy on planted 
areas.


1 – Chair
Members – 15

Non-Domestic Rates

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what conclusions were reached by the Small Business Consultative Group in relation to the small business rates relief scheme advocated by the Forum for Private Business.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Small Business Consultative Group discussed the issue on 4 September. No formal conclusions were reached but the views expressed at the meeting will be taken fully into account in reaching decisions on this matter.

Oil and Gas Industry

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial or other resources have been provided, and to whom, in order to encourage and promote trade links between the Scottish oil and gas industry and the Faroe Islands.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive already has established links with the Faroe Islands with, most recently, a visit to Scotland at the end of September by the Faroese Minister of Health and Social Affairs. These links have had a particular emphasis on co-operation in the oil and gas sector. In addition, the Export Partnership for north-east Scotland, which co-ordinates local export support in this region, is helping to arrange a trade mission to the Faroes in spring 2001.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the answer to S1W-2072 from Richard Lochhead was approved by the then Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs, and why that answer was not conveyed to the Parliament and to Mr Lochhead until 26 September 2000.

Rhona Brankin: The then Deputy Minister for Rural Affairs approved the answer to S1W-2072 on 3 November 1999 but, due to an administrative error, the question was not shown on the tracking system. The question was answered as soon as this was discovered.

Planning

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision exists for (a) applicants and (b) objectors to appeal against decisions by the Forestry Authority concerning consents for new commercial plantations, and whether it has any plans to introduce amendments to the relevant regulations to ensure equal appeal rights for all parties.

Rhona Brankin: In general, landowners do not require consent to plant trees, unless the proposed tree planting is likely to have significant effects on the environment. Where this is the case, the landowner must prepare an environmental statement and submit this to the Forestry Commissioners with an application for consent. Applicants may appeal to Scottish Ministers where the Commissioners have refused consent, or have granted consent subject to certain conditions. Any person aggrieved by a grant of consent may apply to the Court of Session for an Order reducing the consent. We have no plans to introduce amendments to the relevant regulations.

Police

Colin Campbell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any of Scotland’s Chief Constables have made requests in the last twelve months for additional funding for personnel; whether these requests were made orally or in writing; what these requests amounted to in terms of cash and personnel numbers, and whether requests were met and, if so, whether in whole or in part.

Mr Jim Wallace: Police authorities have responsibility for setting police force budgets, taking into account the resources made available by the Scottish Executive through police grant for funding current expenditure within local authority Grant Aided Expenditure. Provision for police current expenditure in the spending plans for justice which were announced on 27 September did, however, take into account projections of costs for the period 2001-02 to 2003-04 made by the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Executive has any concerns about the level of morale in Scotland’s prisons.

Henry McLeish: We recognise that the Scottish Prison Service is currently facing up to a challenging agenda for change.

Rail Services

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of timber from forests is transported by rail and what steps are being taken to persuade the English, Welsh and Scottish Railway to accept more timber business.

Sarah Boyack: In Scotland, English, Welsh and Scottish Railway currently moves approximately 143,000 tonnes of Scottish timber per annum. Private sector timber harvested in 1999 was 1.7 million cubic metres and Forest Enterprise harvested timber in 1999-2000 was 2.994 million cubic metres, equivalent to approximately 4.7 million tonnes altogether.

  It is anticipated that the proposed reopening of the access road to Beattock railway sidings in Dumfries will enable the volume of timber moved by rail to more than double. The council, Railtrack and English, Welsh and Scottish Railway are currently in discussions about this matter.

  The Scottish Executive is committed to increasing the proportion of freight that goes by rail and waterborne modes of transport. We have doubled the funding available under the Freight Facilities Grant scheme to £36 million from March 2001 to March 2004 in order to support the transfer of freight from road to these alternative modes.

Renewable Energy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Scotland’s energy production comes from renewable sources.

Mr Sam Galbraith: At present, around 11% of Scotland’s electricity demand is met from renewable sources. Nearly all of this is accounted for by long-established hydro generation whose output varies year by year depending on rainfall. The rest comes from a wide range of renewable energy projects supported under the Scottish Renewables Obligation.

Renewable Energy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has invested in the research and development of renewable sources of energy in the last year under the third Scottish Renewables Order, and how much it is projected to spend in the next four years.

Mr Sam Galbraith: None. Research and development of renewable sources of energy is carried out under a UK programme funded by the Department of Trade and Industry. The contracts awarded to renewables generators in Scotland under the three Orders making up the Scottish Renewables Obligation are funded by the Fossil Fuel Levy on all electricity suppliers, which is in turn passed on to electricity consumers in Scotland. The levy rate is set each year by the Director General of Electricity Supply and is currently 0.8%.

Renewable Energy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much money it has invested in renewable sources of energy since 1 July 1999.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The contracts awarded to renewables generators in Scotland since 1994 under the three Orders making up the Scottish Renewables Obligation are funded by the Fossil Fuel Levy on all electricity suppliers. The levy rate is set each year by the Director General of Electricity Supply and is currently 0.8%. We will consult shortly on a new obligation to promote further development of renewable energy in Scotland, as part of which consultees will be asked for their views on support mechanisms that they consider to be necessary.

Renewable Energy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed in the renewable energy industry.

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies there are in the renewable energy industry.

Mr Sam Galbraith: This information is not held centrally.

Renewable Energy

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to promote Aberdeen as a centre of expertise for the alternative energy sector and what funding is available to support any such plans.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Executive, through Scottish Enterprise Energy Group based in Aberdeen, is actively encouraging companies in Scotland to consider diversification into the manufacturing opportunities which are beginning to arise from the Executive’s promotion of renewable energy developments. Some of the technological expertise developed in support of the oil and gas industry might be relevant to renewable energy development, which will in future be further stimulated by our Renewables Obligation (Scotland).

Road Safety

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what road safety improvements are being or will be made on the A84/A85 and whether it will attend any public meeting held to address this issue.

Sarah Boyack: Details of safety improvement schemes programmed for the current financial year on the A84 Stirling to Lochearnhead and A85 Perth to Oban trunk roads are as follows:

  A84 Callander - new 30mph speed limit, Village Gateway signing, "Toucan" crossing, new road markings and traffic signals at the A84/A81 junction;

  A84 Kilmahog - new 40mph speed limit;

  A84 Strathyre - upgrading of traffic calming measures;

  A85 - Route Accident Reduction Plan works on the Perth to Lochearnhead section of the route which includes signing, lining, installation of junction bollards and verge marker posts and the provision of anti-skid surfacing;

  A85 - renewing road markings on the Tyndrum to Oban section of the route to bring them up to current standards;

  A85 - progressing the design work of a footway and street lighting scheme at Lochearnhead.

  A84/A85 Lochearnhead junction - progressing the design of minor junction improvement;

  A84 and A85 Verge Safety Fencing - peparing a safety fence installation programme.

  In addition, speed limits for West Huntingtower and Lochty (40mph) and St Fillans (30mph) are planned for the future on the A85 Perth to Oban Trunk Road.

  The Scottish Executive has made arrangements for its Management Agent to attend the November meeting of the Stirling Council Highland Forum where representatives from the local community can voice their road safety concerns regarding the A84/A85 trunk road.

Roads

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when construction of the M77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick will commence.

Sarah Boyack: Construction of the M77 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh could commence in 2002 on the basis of current programme considerations. This is the same programme that I announced following the Strategic Roads Review. It is too soon to provide a more definite estimate of the starting date.

Roads

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when construction of the M77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick will be completed.

Sarah Boyack: Construction of the M77 between Fenwick and Malletsheugh could be completed by 2005 on the basis of current programme considerations. This is the same programme that I announced following the Strategic Roads Review. It is too soon to provide a more definite estimate of the completion date.

Roads

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how construction of the M77 between Malletsheugh and Fenwick will be financed and what financial resources will be committed to the project in which financial years.

Sarah Boyack: It is intended that the M77 Malletsheugh to Fenwick scheme will be constructed using Public/Private Partnership, provided that value for money of this procurement method can be demonstrated. It is too soon to know what financial resources will be committed to the project in which financial years.

Science

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which of its departments is responsible for issues relating to science.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Science underpins, directly or indirectly, a wide range of Scottish Executive policies. These cover not only innovation in industry and wealth creation more generally, but also health, agriculture and fisheries, the environment, the built heritage, education, transport, housing, construction and local authority services.

  In addition,the Scottish Executive has a responsibility for supporting the science base in Scotland as part of the UK science base. It does this both through infrastructure support of universities, through the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and by the sponsorship funding of research institutes and units such as the Scottish Agricultural and Biological Research Institutes funded by the Rural Affairs Department and the Research Units funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Health Department. Other major science facilities funded directly by the Scottish Executive are the Fisheries Research Services and the Scottish Agricultural Science Agency, both being agencies of the Rural Development Department. Historic Scotland, an agency of the Education Department, carries out and commissions scientific work in support of conservation. A range of public bodies sponsored by the Scottish Executive, such as Scottish Natural Heritage, the National Museums of Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the water authorities also have a science capability.

  The Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Department is taking forward the development of a science strategy for Scotland, which will provide a strategic framework of policies to guide the provision and use of science in pursuit of Scottish Executive objectives. It will be published in the New Year.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met the Scottish Qualifications Authority to discuss the school examination appeals process.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Executive is in close touch with SQA about their progress with the appeals process and has also discussed with them their arrangements for dealing with concerns about the outcome of appeals.

Scottish Qualifications Authority

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-10427 by Mr Sam Galbraith on 30 October 2000, whether in the light of the evidence submitted by the interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee which related only to national qualifications candidates and not to candidates for the other awards which require verification, accreditation, validation or other procedures to be carried out by the SQA before awards can be made, it will clarify that answer.

Mr Jack McConnell: The qualifications covered in the evidence given by the Chief Executive of the SQA to the Education, Culture and Sport Committee were Standard Grade, SCE Higher, Certificate of Sixth Year Studies and the new National Qualifications at Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, and Higher. Verification, accreditation and validation of these and other qualifications are operational matters for the SQA. I have asked the Chairman to reply to you and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Smoking

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action will it take to protect children and young people from the health risks of passive smoking.

Susan Deacon: The health issues associated with passive smoking are clear and the Scottish Executive recognises the importance for children and young people to be protected from such risks.

  The Executive will consider the need for further measures on the effects of passive smoking when the results of a recent survey commissioned by HEBS and ASH Scotland on public perceptions of passive smoking are known, together with the impact of the Scottish Voluntary Charter on Smoking in Public Places and the HSE’s proposed code of practice on passive smoking in the workplace.

Smoking

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, in the light of the fact that almost half of the calls to the Health Education Board for Scotland Smokeline are from smokers aged 16 and under, what cessation strategies have been put in place to respond to these callers.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive regards action to tackle smoking among young people as a key priority and smoking cessation has been identified as an area for investment from the £26 million health improvement fund.

  The Executive has provided the Health Education Board for Scotland with resources from the health improvement fund to develop work on cessation and to further set up prevention activity targeted at young people across a range of settings including schools, communities and youth work.

Social Inclusion

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to help promote social inclusion and partnership in Clydebank.

Jackie Baillie: Our Social Justice Annual Report sets out the action we are taking to promote social inclusion across all of Scotland, including Clydebank.

Social Inclusion

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts the conclusion in Excluded Young People: Report of the Strategy Action Team that "if any major steps are to be made in addressing youth exclusion in Glasgow, there will need to be a major increase in funding available to agencies and organisations working in the city" and what steps it is taking to increase such funding.

Jackie Baillie: The Scottish Executive agrees that we need to do more to ensure that excluded young people have the opportunity to make a successful transition to adulthood.

  We recognise the particular problems of poverty and disadvantage in Glasgow and are investing significant amounts to enable agencies and organisations to address these problems more effectively. Glasgow City Council received a special deprivation payment of £8.7 million in 2000-01 and can also expect to receive real terms grant increases in each of the next three years as a result of the extra £1.2 billion support for local government we announced in the Spending Review. We have committed £12.5 million to resource alternative provision for Glasgow’s hostel dwellers, many of whom are excluded young people and Glasgow will benefit from the additional £100 million we have announced for tackling drug misuse. In addition the implementation of the recommendations of the Arbuthnott Report and the £90 million Better Neighbourhoods Fund, will ensure that service providers can access increased resources to tackle deprivation and social exclusion in areas of greatest need, including Glasgow.

Sport

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are plans to change the method of funding of local sports councils.

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration has been given to funding local sports councils through the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils.

Allan Wilson: Local sports councils are part of the local delivery of sport in Scotland and their funding is a matter for individual local authorities.  Sportscotland has close links with the umbrella body the Scottish Association of Local Sports Councils to which it is currently providing grant aid of £21,000 per annum.

Student Finance

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many foreign students are in receipt of funding or a bursary from the British Council and have been annually since 1997, broken down by college or university and showing the amount of any such funding or bursaries.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This information is not held by the Scottish Executive.

Textile Industry

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what new steps it is taking to support the textile industry in the South of Scotland following recent job losses in this sector in Dumfries.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1O-2590 on 23 November.

Timber Industry

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to balance the interests of the timber production industry and the protection of the environment.

Rhona Brankin: Following extensive consultation with many parties, including timber producers and environmental bodies, we have just published our Scottish Forestry Strategy . This includes details of our strategic directions and priorities for action. These are intended to maximise the value of Scottish timber to the Scottish economy, while also ensuring that Scotland’s trees, woods and forests make a positive contribution to our environment.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people travel to Scotland from the USA for golfing holidays annually (a) in total and (b) broken down by UK airport of arrival.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: The Scottish Tourist Board estimates that around 60,000 visitors from overseas will play golf as part of their holiday. Information about country of origin is not collected, but STB believe that the majority will come from the USA. Information about UK airport of arrival is also not collected.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits direct transatlantic air services bring to the Scottish tourism industry and what steps it is taking to promote current and additional direct transatlantic flights from Scottish airports.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: Decisions on new transatlantic air service links are for the commercial judgment of airlines and airport operators who assess the potential for new services. The Executive, Scottish Enterprise and the STB play a supportive and influencing role in promoting new and improved links.

Water Charges

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Water Industry Commissioner recommended to it that there should be a relief scheme for water and sewerage charges for those on low incomes.

Mr Sam Galbraith: Prior to the current public consultation on the affordability of water and sewerage charges, the Executive invited views on the subject from various experts, including the Water Industry Commissioner. Ministers drew on these views in framing their proposals for a scheme to cap water and sewerage charges for those on Council Tax Benefit.

Water Charges

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated (a) initial costs and (b) annual costs will be to local authorities of administering any relief scheme for water and sewerage charges to those on low incomes and from what source local authorities will meet such costs.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The initial and subsequent costs to the local authorities of administering the scheme to cap water and sewerage charges for those on Council Tax Benefit will be established in discussions between the Executive and the local authorities. The Executive has undertaken to reimburse the authorities for these costs.

Water Charges

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost is of the proposed national telephone debt line referred to in paragraph 4.11 of Affordability of Water and Sewerage Charges .

Mr Sam Galbraith: The national telephone debtline is being developed by a partnership that includes the money advice sector, the Scottish Executive, departments of the UK Government and the private sector. Plans for three pilots are being drawn up; one will be in Scotland, with the Executive’s contribution to the £2 million costs expected to be £50,000.

Water Charges

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it arrived at the figure of £24 million to be made available over the next three years for funding of a relief scheme for water and sewerage charges for those on low incomes.

Mr Sam Galbraith: The proposed scheme will cap water and sewerage charges for those on Council Tax Benefit. The cap for each year will be set once water and sewerage charges for the year have been announced. The estimated cost of £24 million over three years reflects assumptions about level of the cap and the number of households likely to be eligible for the scheme. It also includes an element to cover the cost to the local authorities of administering the scheme.